Melissa Putzer and Wade Loberger (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

For a shoulder season weekend, the Olympic Regional Development Authority has been exceptionally busy, hosting the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series (Elite and Junior divisions), this time expanded to two venues and attracting over 14,000 attendees.

Still, if that wasn’t enough, Mount Van Hoevenberg also hosted a Youth Mountain Bike competition and a Skeleton Push Championships and provided access to hiking up Hoevenberg. Meanwhile, Whiteface had its Memorial Highway open to the summit. The Olympic Center and Northwood School hosted the opening of the Junior Women’s Hockey League’s 2025-26 season, which featured games for the 19s and 16s, with the 14s participating in an exhibition showcase.

For ORDA staff and the many volunteers who stepped up it was an all-hands-on-deck weekend with people taking on whatever task needed to be done resulting in attendees and the international media singing our community’s praises which included how they were treated by parking lot attendants, lodging and restaurant staff, shuttle drivers, and the State Police, as well as by the many volunteers and officials.

One New Zealand reporter told me that Lake Placid was the most welcoming and friendly WHOOP UCI host community they had experienced to date, a sentiment echoed by athletes, coaches, and family members alike. The media and volunteers also liked how well they were fed.

All this was crammed into one weekend, requiring patience when events ended, especially on Friday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 5 at Hoevenberg and Saturday, Oct. 4 at Whiteface, as well as in the community of Wilmington. No question, it took time to empty so many filled parking areas, whether along state Routes 73 or 86, when many people tried to leave at once. Fortunately, the balmy weather and thrill of experiencing such incredible events made such waits easier.

Lukas Haider and Gloria Scarsi (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“Yes, I came to Placid last year,” said rider Evie Richards of Great Britain, who took second place in both Friday’s Cross-Country Short Track Women Elite and Sunday’s Cross-Country Elite Women’s races. “It’s such a beautiful place. I love the spectators you have here. It feels like we are on holiday, it’s a lovely place to come, especially in autumn when the changing leaves are so beautiful.”

Richards said that she always wanted to compete in the Olympics, and after trying several other sports, she found her passion in mountain biking. She was not up for trying Whiteface this year, though she would consider it in the future. Her immediate priority was getting ready for Sunday’s cross-country race.

“The Sunday’s course is very technical, coupled with some quite big features,” said Richards. “It’s tactical, I have to stay focused.”

Youth mountain bike coach Jason Bailey of Holland, Michigan, said that he enjoys experiencing the variety of trails on the racing circuit, citing that the trails in Placid are filled with roots and rocks, whereas those in his area are flatter.

“To help kids stay safe, I focus on spacing, the space between them and other riders, prepping to be aware of what’s in front of them by looking ahead, staying back and low, and being ready for the shin pumping bumps,” said Bailey. “Key to safety is having fun. The more kids try to be competitive and push, the quicker they will burn out. The more they have fun, the more they love riding, the better they’re going to do over the short and long term.”

Adrianna and Jason Bailey (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

One of the youth participants was third-year mountain bike rider Niko Wood-Irwin of Guilderland, who participates in cross-country ski races at Hoevenberg in the winter. Niko, who discovered the fun of mountain biking in a Schenectady park, said, “I like skiing and biking here because it’s quiet, because the trails are out in nature, and, with these two sports, I can do that year-round.”

Inside Hoevenberg’s base lodge, Dionna and Percell Gaskins of Columbus, Ohio, came to cheer on their daughter, Hannah, as she sought to qualify for the U.S. Skeleton Olympic team by performing in the push championships. Inspired by track athlete Lolo Jones’ successful transition from track to bobsledding, they recognized that Hannah, a former college track athlete, had a viable path.

“There’s a measure of risk in everything you do,” said Percell, himself a former NFL linebacker, “but as it’s a sport she likes, we’re excited to be able to come out and support her effort to compete.”

“It means a lot to me that they came out,” said Hannah. “I think they are falling in love with how beautiful it is out here. What I love about skeleton is that it’s just you, the sled, and the ice; the track is yours. I love how it challenges me.”

Even after screaming down Whiteface at breakneck speed, bouncing off boulders, rocks and roots, barely missing trees, and hurdling through the air off ramps while peddling as fast as she can and getting from the top of Wilderness to be bottom in about three and a half minutes, Lisa Bouladou, of France, looking as relaxed as having just taken a stroll, waxed poetic about the beauty of the autumn leaves and the fun she had during her ride.

“I am thrilled to be here,” said Bouladou. “The landscape is amazing. The track was very good; it’s also good to have a new venue. I love the speed and everything about being on a bike. What did my mother say when I told her that I was taking up this sport? She just closed her eyes and prayed.”

Seb Kemp, team principal of Santa Cruz, said that the riders are not accustomed to riding on a new, fresh course; generally, they revisit the same courses repeatedly, so they have in mind the best line for attacking the course, which didn’t apply this year. An outcome was the presence of some new faces on the winning board.

“This is a particularly interesting course with loose dirt and sandy conditions often part of a freshly made course; it gives the riders an interesting puzzle to work out,” said Kemp. “Whiteface is a great venue, a great place to mountain bike and see the sport. I hope even more people come out next year.”

“It was quite a hard track with lots of different parts,” said Italian rider Gloria Scarsi of MS Racing. “I enjoyed it very much and want to come back. It was fun.”

“We liked the venue and the hospitality has been excellent,” said team manager Lukas Haider.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)